2.75 stars
I didn't have any expectations starting this book. I haven't heard anyone really talk about it, and I didn't read the synopsis before beginning the audiobook.
While I don't think it's breaking the mold in any way, I did think it was an interesting concept. This reads like a kingdom (queendom?) fantasy, but also contains sci-fi elements in its technology. I ultimately wished the world building had been executed better.

The world is explained, but it is a little convoluted. There are all these 'rules' that don't really make sense to me. They felt contrived and unrealistic. For example, the queen's are not allowed to marry, because they wouldn't want a husband to try to obtain power, but they are expected to give birth to a daughter in order to one day inherit the throne. Then there is another rule that they aren't allowed to leave the castle...because...reasons? My question is, how on Earth are they supposed to conceive a child if they aren't allowed to have relationships or leave their castle? They have to hope that someone they meet at the castle is appropriate and willing to procreate and then that it works and turns out to be a girl? That's a lot of ifs. Then, if the queen does manage to give birth to a girl, they aren't allowed to stay in the castle and be raised by the Queen because...again...reasons? Instead, they are sent to live with a family in their sector presumably so they can learn about their people and culture...but if the queens were allowed to, you know, leave the castle, then they could teach their daughters about their culture and still raise them. It just didn't quite gel for me, and at the end of the day the rules felt like an attempt to cover up flaws in the plot.
As far as the characters go, I liked Keralie well enough, but I felt as though she was really the only one that even approached well-developed. Scenes from Varin's perspective would've helped me connect with him more. The romance between the two of them was rushed and also under-developed. I didn't hate the idea of them, but the execution was lacking.
I also didn't understand Mackiel's motives and apparent change in demeanor. We're supposed to believe

that he and Keralie were super close throughout their childhoods just to have him turn on her for...reasons? There are multiple times when Keralie and then Marguerite wonder what could've happened to Mackiel to make him turn out the way he did...and it's never actually explained. Again, it felt very contrived.

There were a couple of reveals that were mildly surprising to me, but it wasn't enough to overcome the issues I had with the plot and world.

This is a standalone novel, but I actually would've preferred if the story had been expanded into a duology to really take time with this world. I feel like it might have helped with the contrivances because there would've been more time to develop the world, characters, and plot.

I appreciate that this is the author's debut novel, and I'll keep my eyes out for future books, even though this wasn't a new favorite.